Heavy rain affects Barefoot Solar Project launch
Published on: Monday, November 23, 2015
Kota Marudu: The official launch of the Sabah Women Entrepreneurs & Professionals Association (Swepa) Barefoot Solar Project at Kg Sonsogon Magandai went without fanfare on Thursday.Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had to cancel his helicopter trip to the remote village at the eleventh hour. Project Organising Chairperson Datuk Adeline Leong, Deputy Organising Chairperson Hanaa Wong Abdullah and Political Secretary to the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, Datuk Daniel Kinsik set off for the village in another Sabah Air helicopter.ADVERTISEMENT "We had to land in the compound of the Kota Marudu District Police Headquarters as it was raining heavily over Sonsogon Magandai," said Leong. Satellite images showed looming clouds and rain over the village area.The (Launch of Lights) was the culmination of three years of hard work on the part of the Swepa Project Team.Swepa President Datin Albina Ogor Abdullah and the Project Team with Datin Jeanette Tambakau as Project Adviser cum Expedition Leader made the trip overland. The distance from Kota Marudu township to Kg Sonsogon Magandai is about 280km via Paitan Road.Tambakau who acknowledged Musa's huge support for Swepa's recent charity gala dinner said the inability of the CM to officiate due to bad weather was regretted.ADVERTISEMENT Kota Marudu District Officer Sualim Sanan and heads of department turned up in full force. Also present were Inspector Norisham Mudin who represented Kota Marudu OCPD Supt Mohd Isa Yusof, Kota Marudu District Health Officer Dr Omar Kwang Kugan and village chief Kayak Oting.Sualim described the project as good and meaningful for the kampong people. "As DO, I am very thankful to Swepa and all the project partners. It is my earnest hope that this initiative will be extended to other villages too," he said.
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Using hoes and spades, men from Kg Sonsogon Magandai took pains to carve out "earthy steps" on the slope and placed new planks leading to the venue to facilitate mobility.Tarihing Masanim, an illiterate Dusun grandma, 40, was taught by the India-based Barefoot College how to convert solar energy using a solar panel and battery to light up a village.She became Malaysia's first woman solar power engineer in March this year on completion of a six-month training stint in solar engineering in Tilonia, India.Anita who prepared a list of the people's requests for improving their socio-economic status for submission to Musa, assured the people that she would hand it to the CM in person.She announced that she had approved an allocation of RM30,000 from her Assemblywoman's Fund for extension of the rest house in the village.She also thanked Swepa for having chosen Kg Sonsogon Magandai for the Barefoot Solar Project and reminded the village community to be grateful to this non-governmental organisation (NGO) for providing lighting facilities."I also urge you to render your cooperation to Tarihing to ensure sustainability of solar power supply in your homes," she told the village folks. Anita, who is Assistant Minister of Community Development & Consumer Affairs, expressed pride in Tarihing's personal achievement and a woman at that, saying she is illiterate, yet she has mastered the knowledge and skill to electrify 100 households at the remote village.She has been trained to fabricate, install, maintain and repair solar lighting units.Anita also wanted the community to accept the communal land grant system for the benefit of future generations.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Albina later presented certificates of appreciation to project partners. They are the Federal Government, Sabah State Government, Government of India, Barefoot College, Asian Forestry Company (Sabah), GEF Small Grants Programme, UNDP, Sabah Credit Corporation, Pacos Trust, Raleigh International, Sabah Fire & Rescue Services Department (Bomba Sabah), Louis Pang Photography, Grandis Hotels & Resorts, volunteer Jennifer Anjek and independent blogger Casey Leong. Daily Express is the media partner.National Coordinator Lee Shin Shin and Programme Assistant Lai Sook Mei represented GEF Small Grants Programme while Managing Director Glen MacNair represented Asian Forestry Company (Sabah). Executive Director Anne Lasimbang and Head of Corporate Service Department, Elijius Samuel received the certificates on behalf of Pacos Trust and Sabah Credit Corporation respectively. Also present was Tom Nelson, a Country Programme Coordinator of Raleigh International Malaysia.